Grains de Batisseurs

From the educational workshop “Grains de bâtisseurs” to a Large Project exploring matter

Grains de bâtisseursis an educational and scientific workshop that brings together about a hundred projects, whose aims is to discover – through games – the physics of granular matter. These experiments, on sand, water and clay, are specially conceived to make scientific information on granular mineral materials, especially earth and, more generally, concretes (cement, clay, etc), accessible to the general public. The workshop allows participants to acquire, by way of geology and architecture, the scientific and technical knowledge of the material. It also emphasises the strong idea that one can build with what is beneath one’s feet.

Heritage and local development

Sustainable protection and promotion of cultural heritageStrengthening of local capacities and local authorities in West Africa

Objective:

The protection, management and promotion of cultural heritage represent a cultural, social and economic issue for the development of districts and the fight against poverty. The involvement of local authorities is essential in this area. This ‘AIMF’ project, carried out in partnership with CRAterre and others, seeks to strengthen the capacity and the independence of local authorities to intervene directly in development activities based on heritage qualities in their districts.

Activities:

Research on existing training opportunities, needs and expectations of local authorities in terms of cultural heritage and sustainable development.

Development and execution of training.

Development of a network of “heritage cities” in West Africa.

A collaborative and shared method:

A partnership between local authorities and training institutions to develop a pilot strategy to strengthen the intervention capacity of elected representatives;

“Heritage and local development” Workshops, Bamako and Segou, Mali, 4-10 October 2010

Prevention, risk management, reconstruction

Methods and strategies of prevention, risk management and reconstruction

The presence of semi-ominous strategies at all levels, from house to city, also encompassing social organisation including mythology, reveals not only the importance of the notion of reduction of the vulnerability in the process of evolution, of a local construction culture, but also the need to develop an approach so as to improve the resilience of populations in an endogenous way so that each particular situation and its responses can be studied, generated, evaluated and – in as much as possible – improved.

The goal of this programme, which is actually the subject of a first publication financed by the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Oceans (MEEDDM) on the theme of reducing vulnerability and local development, aims at improving responses and their efficiency in post-disaster reconstruction phases, thanks to the use of well harnessed local resources (materials, techniques, knowledge and know-how).

Approach

The research is based on preventive actions and risk preparedness in difficult areas (limited economic accessibility) by working on an integrated approach so as to bring lasting solutions to reduce the effects of vagaries on local communities. The major principles of the presented models that will result from this research can also be applied to less disadvantaged areas.

Construction and social development

Construction and social development

Homes made of local natural materials, as opposed to new urban models built with factory-made materials, conjure a negative image, associated with poverty. And yet, throughout time, the production of human settlements has been a vector of development of local societies.

We work with local communities to change the negative perceptions of that housing. It is therefore through training, as a means of re-education and social rehabilitation, that we attempt to regain the understanding of legacies with a view to improving living conditions.

Approach

The next four-year plan aims to analyse a large body of projects that were developed over the course of the past years, especially in Africa, so as to be in a position to restore local methodologies and education; these would in turn ensure a better distribution of responses that contribute to social development based on the production and improvement in the quality of affordable housing.

Earthen World Heritage

World Heritage programme on earthen architecture

Earthen architecture is one of the most powerful expressions of human ability to create a built environment using locally available resources. Earthen architecture is threatened by natural disasters, by the advent of urbanism, and the inappropriate use of modern technologies, as well as by the disappearance of traditional conservation practices. We must however keep in mind that over the past few years, the specificities of earthen architecture have been studied, and its advantages and qualities have been recognised.

The aim of the programme is to perfect methods and techniques of improving the conservation and management of different types of earthen architecture.

Approach

A series of pilot projects serve as a base for the development of training projects and other activities that go towards the global dissemination of recognised best practices. Solutions will be developed to allow the conservation of heritage values, but also with a view to improving people’s living conditions.

The actual implementation of the programme will be done in phases: Phase 1 (2007-2008) was the preparatory phase; Phase 2 (2009-2011) is focused on Africa and the Arab states; Phase 3 (2012-2014) will be focused on Latin America and Central Asia; Phase 4 (2015-2017) will be focused on Europe and Asia.

Africa 2009

For 12 years, the Africa 2009 programme contributed to the improvement of management and conservation of immovable cultural heritage in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme was developed on the basis of the results of a needs assessment survey carried out in 1996, to which 32 African counties responded. The programme was launched in 1998 at a regional meeting on cultural heritage in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The programme was the result of a partnership between African cultural heritage institutions, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, ICCROM, CRAterre-ENSAG, EPA and CHDA.

The programme was meant to achieve the following four results:

1. Improved capacity by national institutions to manage and conserve national heritage sites;2. An improved understanding of the importance of immovable cultural heritage e and its role in sustainable development, by professionals, decision-makers, and local communities. 3. An active network of professionals who can share a common approach (vision and method), and exchange information and experiences;4. Strengthened capacities of training institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to ensuring the effective long-term continuation of activities that continue to strengthen them.

Africa 2009 was structured so as to benefit from activities at two levels:

At the regional level, the “Projet Cadre” favours reflection and the progressive development of ideas, guarantees continuity within individual activities, and allows for the dissemination of results obtained by the programme. Courses, seminars, research projects, and the improvement of networking are implemented, based on the realization that the best way to treat problems is to work together, share ideas, and develop common frameworks which can be adapted to specific local needs.

At the site level, the “Projet Situés” ensure that Africa 2009 is deeply rooted in the realities of the field while responding to specific needs of selected sites in terms of training and implementation of conservation activities.

The following links provide more details about several “Projet Situés”: